Hasui, Kawase (1883 – 1957), “Nigatsu Hall, Nara (Pre-Earthquake)”

Notes: Stronger colors then example in Hotei, with extensive bokashi shading in the traveler's hat and sky. Properly stored in a presentation folder; which helped retain all the original colors, but left very faint toning in the edge of the margin. Narazaki tells us that 'Vistors to Nara never fail to go to the Nigatsu Hall from where the large roof of the Dai butsuden (Buddha hall) is visible. Perhaps the ancient city of Tenpyo is called to mind as they look towards the mountain range around Ikoma (beyond the city and valley of Nara)'. - Hotei Vol. 1; pg. 60 The great Kanto earthquake of 1923 destroyed the original Watanabe print shop and studio along with the printing blocks for this design as well as the unsold inventory. Only impressions of this design sold before the earthquake and removed from Tokyo survived the earthquake and ensuing fires that consumed the city.